LEXINGTON (10/17/13) – University of Kentucky football junior defensive end Alvin “Bud” Dupree and senior linebacker Avery Williamson have been honored for their first-half success as Phil Stele College Football has tabbed the two defensive stars to the publication’s Midseason All-Southeastern Conference Teams, it was announced Thursday.

Dupree was named a second-team defensive lineman while Williamson was a second-team linebacker. During the preseason the publication named Dupree a fourth-team preseason All-SEC honoree, while Williamson was tabbed second-team preseason All-SEC. Both players are on the College Football Performance Awards Defensive Awards Watch Lists, while Williamson is on the Butkus Award Watch List for nation’s best linebacker.

Dupree is having a great year for Kentucky sitting tied for the team lead with 4.5 tackles for loss, adding 3.5 sacks and 28 total tackles. The native of Buford, Ga., has also forced a fumble this season and has two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup. Before missing the Alabama game due to injury, Dupree had started 20 consecutive games for the Wildcats. Dupree ranks fifth in the SEC and 34th nationally in sacks per game.

Williamson is off to another great start for Kentucky leading the team with 64 tackles, which ranks him first in the SEC in total tackles. The senior has also added 1.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and two fumble recoveries. The native of Milan, Tenn., ranks top 10 in the nation in tackles this season after an impressive 13 tackles last week against Alabama. Williamson has three games of double-digit tackles this season and has 11 in his career.

Kentucky is currently in its second bye week of the season before a short week next week when it travels to Mississippi State at 7:30 p.m. EST, Thursday, Oct. 24 for a kickoff on ESPN.